Device for melting sleet and ice on windshields



NOV. 3, 1936. H FRENCH 2,059,224

DEVICE FOR MELTING SLEET AND ICE ON WINDSHIELDS Filed Aug'. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l FQIH I! E g is $54, flag/1275x745;

Nov. 3, 1936. FRENCH 2,059,224

DEVICE FOR MELTING SLEET AND ICE ON WINDSHIELDS Filed Aug. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIHHHIHHII Patented Nov. 3, 1936 man DEVICE roa MELTING SLEET AND ICE N wmnsnmms Howard Edwin French, Clinton, Conn.

. v Application August 5, 1935, Serial No. 34,833

1 Claim. (01. zi -40.5

The object of my invention is to provide a novel device for melting sleet and ice on Windshields, adapted to be attached to and operated by automatic windshield wipers. It is also an object of my invention to provide a device that will operate on vehicles having the wiper either on the top or on the bottom of the windshield. It is also an objectof my invention to provide the novel combination and arrangement of parts disclosed in the accompanying drawings. 1' attain these and other objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention,

1 reduced size, applied to a windshield;

' Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the invention applied to a windshield;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the invention applied to a windshield;

Fig. 4 is a view of the invention applied to a windshield, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the wiper approximately at the end of its stroke;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with the wiper in position to begin its stroke; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line t-6 of Fig. 4.

Like numerals designate like parts in each of the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, there 30 is illustrated-a windshield 2 mounted in a frame l on which is fastened the bracket 3 to which a suitable'windshield wiper arm 5 is mounted by a suitable pivot t. The wiper arm 5 carries a conventional wiper t. I provide links l for securing the distributing conduit '8 to the wiper arm 5. The distributing conduit 8 is closed at its'end but is provided with a series of openings El facing the windshield. Conduit 9 has a pivotal connection ill with the hollow piston rod l l which has 40 a hollow ball it and socket i3 connection with the piston l2, which is slidably mounted in the cylinder it. The piston l3 has a valve-controlled passage it leading to the hollow piston rod H, a valve being mounted in the outer end of the passage, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Chamber it, which preferably is cylindrical, is positioned in the lower portion of the approximately rectangular chamber ll. .As shown in'Figs. 4 and 5, I provide a valve I9 50 normally held in closed position by spring to. close the passage 21! from the upper portion of the casing H to the cylinder it. I also provide a manually controlled valve it in the passage to cylinder l8. 55 As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the casing ii is attached to the windshield frame I by suitable means, such as the bolts 23, which are inserted through brackets 23'. The casing ll isprovided with a suitable removable cap 24 whereby the easing may be readily filled with a suitable liquid, 5 having a freezing point below the freezing point of water. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, I provide a slot 25 in the end of easing I! to allow for the reciprocating movement of the hollow piston rod II. c 0 In using the apparatus the cap 24 is removed and the casing I1 is partially or completely filled with a suitable liquid, such as glycerine, which has a substantially lower freezing temperature than water. When the wiper is started in opera- 15 tion it may be assumed to be in the position shown in Fig. 5. As the conduit 8 and hollow piston rod H are swung outwardly by the wiper arm 5, the piston I2 is drawn toward the other end of the cylinder It as shownin' Fig. 4 thereby causing the 0 liquid to flow from the upper chamber of the container into the cylinder it as shownin Fig. 4 the valve it being opened automatically by the inflow of the liquid into cylinder it. When the wiper arm 5, to which conduit 8 is attached, starts 25 on its return stroke, the valve i9 is immediately closed by its spring 20 and the liquid in cylinder It is forced by the return movement of piston I2 past valve 86 and through hollow piston rod H into conduit t and thence through the opening 9 onto the surface of the windshield to melt any accumulated ice, sleet or snow on the windshield. As the piston is drawn through the cylinder it forms a vacuum which draws the glycerine into the cylinder, as will be readily understood by referring to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. The return of the piston forces the glycerine which has been entrapped within the cylinder through the hollow piston rod ii and conduit t and through its openings 9 and out of the windshield.

- When the shut-off valve 22 is closed, the effect is that further admission of the liquid into the cylinder it is prevented and air replaces glycerine in the cylinder l8. Valves l9 and it are provided respectively with springs 2t and it which cause them to close automatically.

The device obtains its power from the windshield wiper as the conduit 8 is fastened by links to the wiper arm 5 and is positioned relative to the wiper arm far enough down to give the piston conduit the correct movement.

In some cases it might be necessary to replace the original wiper arm with a new one as some of them might not stand the strain. If desired,

the conventional wiper arm can be replaced with container, 9. piston slidably mounted in said chamber, the piston having a passage therethrough, a spring controlled valve at the mouth of said passage, a hollow piston rod with which said passage communicates, a tube pivotally connected to the outer end of the hollow piston rod and having its free end closed, and also having a series of spaced apertures for the discharge of liquid on the windshield, and means for attaching said hollow piston rod to the wiper arm of 0 windshield wiper.

a conventional v HOWARD EDWIN FRENCH. 

